Trema micranthum Contains Cannabinoids, but Its Potential as a CBD Source Remains Unproven
A 2024 study found cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoid compounds in Trema micranthum, a fast-growing plant native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. The findings revive interest in the species as a possible alternative source of cannabinoids, but they do not yet show that it can replace hemp or cannabis for commercial production.
The research, published in Scientific Reports, analyzed leaves, fruits, flowers and stems using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography combined with high-resolution mass spectrometry. The researchers detected CBD, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and the acidic precursors cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid A (THCA-A) in leaves, fruits and inflorescences. None of the targeted compounds was detected in the stems.
Most of the cannabinoids were present in their acidic forms, which are converted into CBD and THC through decarboxylation when exposed to heat. The measured amounts were extremely small. In the leaves, for example, the study reported approximately 0.00443 micrograms of CBD and 0.00105 micrograms of THC per gram of extract. The authors noted that these concentrations were far below those typically found in cannabis and concluded that the plant is not currently a practical source of cannabinoids without substantial improvements in cultivation and extraction.
The results also complicate an earlier claim that T. micranthum could provide CBD without any THC. In a 2023 announcement, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro described preliminary research identifying CBD in the plant’s flowers and fruits while reporting no detectable THC. That work had not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal at the time.
A separate 2024 investigation reached a different conclusion. Researchers tested two T. micranthum samples using colorimetric screening, thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Although one preliminary color test produced positive results, the more selective analyses did not detect CBD, THC or other phytocannabinoids. The authors suggested that naturally occurring phenolic compounds may have caused false-positive screening results. Their findings are available in the journal Plants.
These conflicting results highlight the importance of plant genetics, growing conditions, sample selection and analytical technique. A color reaction or an initial chemical signal is not enough to establish that a plant produces a particular cannabinoid. Confirming the identity and concentration of the compounds requires comparisons with reference standards and highly selective analytical methods.
Trema micranthum, sometimes called Florida trema or Jamaican nettletree, belongs to the Cannabaceae family, which also includes cannabis and hops. It is a resilient, rapidly growing plant that can reach roughly 10 meters in height and is common in disturbed habitats. Its abundance makes it an intriguing subject for research, but availability alone does not guarantee that its compounds can be extracted efficiently or produced at economically useful concentrations.
The 2024 findings therefore represent a chemical identification study, not a clinical trial or proof of therapeutic effectiveness. Researchers have not established that CBD from T. micranthum works differently from CBD produced by cannabis, nor have they demonstrated a safe, scalable method for manufacturing medicines from the plant. Further work will be needed to replicate the results across populations, determine how the compounds are produced, improve yields and assess the plant’s safety and pharmacological activity.
For now, T. micranthum is best viewed as a promising but unresolved subject in cannabinoid research. It may broaden scientists’ understanding of where cannabinoids occur in nature, yet its value as a commercial CBD source remains uncertain.
